Center Theater

407 Main Street,
Little Rock, AR 72201

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Rowley United Theatres Inc.

Architects: Edwin B. Cromwell, Frank Ginocchio, T.M. Sanders

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Royal Theater

Nearby Theaters

A 1910 Drawing of the Proposed Royal Theatre, Little Rock

The Royal Theater was opened September 13, 1910. It was remodeled in 1917 to the plans of local architect T.M. Sanders, and again in 1949 to the plans of architects Ginocchio & Cromwell, when it reopened on April 17, 1949 as the Center Theater, operated by Rowley United Theatres Inc. It was still open in 1957.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 17 comments)

jamestv
jamestv on June 2, 2010 at 4:13 pm

The last time I passed by the Center in May 2009, the theater was still there. The buildings immediately across the street had just been demolished and might have been confused for the Center. During my formative years in the 60’s, I saw a number of Elvis and Disney movies there; they also played the Bond films there.

Zycrow
Zycrow on August 3, 2011 at 9:31 am

I am fairly certain it is completely gone now.

dcbohn
dcbohn on May 10, 2012 at 4:15 pm

So sad. Saw lots of good movies, there. The first one I remember is ‘Zulu’, with Stanley Baker, and Michael Caine, in 1964, when I was 9. Also saw ‘Patton’, there, in ‘70, 'Big Jake’, in ‘71, and 'The Exorcist’ in ‘73, and many, many others.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 20, 2012 at 5:35 am

The Royal Theatre dates from around 1910. The June 21, 1917, issue of Engineering News-Record said that the Royal Theatre was to be rebuilt at a cost of about $150,000. Plans for the rebuilding were being prepared by local architect T.M. Sanders.

DaddyMac
DaddyMac on January 22, 2014 at 8:49 pm

I saw Fantastic Voyage in 1966 at this one. Small, but it had a balcony. I’d heard channel 7 purchased it in the 70’s.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on May 24, 2014 at 9:59 pm

This theatre has been demolished. The site is now a parking lot.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on January 26, 2015 at 12:48 am

National Register information

Status Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 2003 Reference number 03000422 Architectural style Modern Movement: Moderne Area of significance Architecture Level of significance Local Evaluation criteria C – Design/Construction Property type Building Historic function Theater Period of significance 1925-1949 Significant years 1948; 1949

rivest266
rivest266 on November 5, 2017 at 5:52 pm

This opened as Royal on September 13th, 1910. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 5, 2017 at 6:30 pm

Reopened as Center on April 17th, 1949

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